Florida Senate - 2016                                     SB 666
       
       
        
       By Senator Legg
       
       
       
       
       
       17-00694A-16                                           2016666__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to voter identification; amending s.
    3         97.0535, F.S.; expanding the list of acceptable forms
    4         of identification for certain voter registration
    5         applicants to include veteran health identification
    6         cards and licenses to carry a concealed weapon or
    7         firearm; amending s. 101.043, F.S.; expanding the list
    8         of acceptable forms of identification at a polling
    9         place or early voting site to include veteran health
   10         identification cards and licenses to carry a concealed
   11         weapon or firearm; amending ss. 101.68 and 101.6923,
   12         F.S.; revising absentee ballot and special absentee
   13         ballot instructions, respectively, to conform to
   14         changes made by the act; providing an effective date.
   15          
   16  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   17  
   18         Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
   19  97.0535, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   20         97.0535 Special requirements for certain applicants.—
   21         (3)(a) The following forms of identification shall be
   22  considered current and valid if they contain the name and
   23  photograph of the applicant and have not expired:
   24         1. United States passport.
   25         2. Debit or credit card.
   26         3. Military identification.
   27         4. Student identification.
   28         5. Retirement center identification.
   29         6. Neighborhood association identification.
   30         7. Public assistance identification.
   31         8. Veteran health identification card issued by the United
   32  States Department of Veterans Affairs.
   33         9. A license to carry a concealed weapon or firearm issued
   34  pursuant to s. 790.06.
   35         Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
   36  101.043, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   37         101.043 Identification required at polls.—
   38         (1)(a) The precinct register, as prescribed in s. 98.461,
   39  shall be used at the polls for the purpose of identifying the
   40  elector at the polls before allowing him or her to vote. The
   41  clerk or inspector shall require each elector, upon entering the
   42  polling place, to present one of the following current and valid
   43  picture identifications:
   44         1. Florida driver license.
   45         2. Florida identification card issued by the Department of
   46  Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
   47         3. United States passport.
   48         4. Debit or credit card.
   49         5. Military identification.
   50         6. Student identification.
   51         7. Retirement center identification.
   52         8. Neighborhood association identification.
   53         9. Public assistance identification.
   54         10. Veteran health identification card issued by the United
   55  States Department of Veterans Affairs.
   56         11. A license to carry a concealed weapon or firearm issued
   57  pursuant to s. 790.06.
   58         Section 3. Paragraph (d) of subsection (4) of section
   59  101.68, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   60         101.68 Canvassing of absentee ballot.—
   61         (4)
   62         (d) Instructions must accompany the absentee ballot
   63  affidavit in substantially the following form:
   64  
   65         READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE COMPLETING THE
   66  AFFIDAVIT. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY CAUSE YOUR
   67  BALLOT NOT TO COUNT.
   68  
   69         1. In order to ensure that your absentee ballot will be
   70  counted, your affidavit should be completed and returned as soon
   71  as possible so that it can reach the supervisor of elections of
   72  the county in which your precinct is located no later than 5
   73  p.m. on the 2nd day before the election.
   74         2. You must sign your name on the line above (Voter’s
   75  Signature).
   76         3. You must make a copy of one of the following forms of
   77  identification:
   78         a. Identification that includes your name and photograph:
   79  United States passport; debit or credit card; military
   80  identification; student identification; retirement center
   81  identification; neighborhood association identification; or
   82  public assistance identification; veteran health identification
   83  card issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs;
   84  or a Florida license to carry a concealed weapon or firearm; or
   85         b. Identification that shows your name and current
   86  residence address: current utility bill, bank statement,
   87  government check, paycheck, or government document (excluding
   88  voter identification card).
   89         4. Place the envelope bearing the affidavit into a mailing
   90  envelope addressed to the supervisor. Insert a copy of your
   91  identification in the mailing envelope. Mail, deliver, or have
   92  delivered the completed affidavit along with the copy of your
   93  identification to your county supervisor of elections. Be sure
   94  there is sufficient postage if mailed and that the supervisor’s
   95  address is correct.
   96         5. Alternatively, you may fax or e-mail your completed
   97  affidavit and a copy of your identification to the supervisor of
   98  elections. If e-mailing, please provide these documents as
   99  attachments.
  100         Section 4. Subsection (2) of section 101.6923, Florida
  101  Statutes, is amended to read:
  102         101.6923 Special absentee ballot instructions for certain
  103  first-time voters.—
  104         (2) A voter covered by this section shall be provided with
  105  printed instructions with his or her absentee ballot in
  106  substantially the following form:
  107  
  108         READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE MARKING YOUR
  109         BALLOT. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY CAUSE
  110         YOUR BALLOT NOT TO COUNT.
  111  
  112         1. In order to ensure that your absentee ballot will be
  113  counted, it should be completed and returned as soon as possible
  114  so that it can reach the supervisor of elections of the county
  115  in which your precinct is located no later than 7 p.m. on the
  116  date of the election. However, if you are an overseas voter
  117  casting a ballot in a presidential preference primary or general
  118  election, your absentee ballot must be postmarked or dated no
  119  later than the date of the election and received by the
  120  supervisor of elections of the county in which you are
  121  registered to vote no later than 10 days after the date of the
  122  election.
  123         2. Mark your ballot in secret as instructed on the ballot.
  124  You must mark your own ballot unless you are unable to do so
  125  because of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write.
  126         3. Mark only the number of candidates or issue choices for
  127  a race as indicated on the ballot. If you are allowed to “Vote
  128  for One” candidate and you vote for more than one, your vote in
  129  that race will not be counted.
  130         4. Place your marked ballot in the enclosed secrecy
  131  envelope and seal the envelope.
  132         5. Insert the secrecy envelope into the enclosed envelope
  133  bearing the Voter’s Certificate. Seal the envelope and
  134  completely fill out the Voter’s Certificate on the back of the
  135  envelope.
  136         a. You must sign your name on the line above (Voter’s
  137  Signature).
  138         b. If you are an overseas voter, you must include the date
  139  you signed the Voter’s Certificate on the line above (Date) or
  140  your ballot may not be counted.
  141         c. An absentee ballot will be considered illegal and will
  142  not be counted if the signature on the Voter’s Certificate does
  143  not match the signature on record. The signature on file at the
  144  start of the canvass of the absentee ballots is the signature
  145  that will be used to verify your signature on the Voter’s
  146  Certificate. If you need to update your signature for this
  147  election, send your signature update on a voter registration
  148  application to your supervisor of elections so that it is
  149  received no later than the start of canvassing of absentee
  150  ballots, which occurs no earlier than the 15th day before
  151  election day.
  152         6. Unless you meet one of the exemptions in Item 7., you
  153  must make a copy of one of the following forms of
  154  identification:
  155         a. Identification which must include your name and
  156  photograph: United States passport; debit or credit card;
  157  military identification; student identification; retirement
  158  center identification; neighborhood association identification;
  159  or public assistance identification; veteran health
  160  identification card issued by the United States Department of
  161  Veterans Affairs; or a Florida license to carry a concealed
  162  weapon or firearm; or
  163         b. Identification which shows your name and current
  164  residence address: current utility bill, bank statement,
  165  government check, paycheck, or government document (excluding
  166  voter identification card).
  167         7. The identification requirements of Item 6. do not apply
  168  if you meet one of the following requirements:
  169         a. You are 65 years of age or older.
  170         b. You have a temporary or permanent physical disability.
  171         c. You are a member of a uniformed service on active duty
  172  who, by reason of such active duty, will be absent from the
  173  county on election day.
  174         d. You are a member of the Merchant Marine who, by reason
  175  of service in the Merchant Marine, will be absent from the
  176  county on election day.
  177         e. You are the spouse or dependent of a member referred to
  178  in paragraph c. or paragraph d. who, by reason of the active
  179  duty or service of the member, will be absent from the county on
  180  election day.
  181         f. You are currently residing outside the United States.
  182         8. Place the envelope bearing the Voter’s Certificate into
  183  the mailing envelope addressed to the supervisor. Insert a copy
  184  of your identification in the mailing envelope. DO NOT PUT YOUR
  185  IDENTIFICATION INSIDE THE SECRECY ENVELOPE WITH THE BALLOT OR
  186  INSIDE THE ENVELOPE WHICH BEARS THE VOTER’S CERTIFICATE OR YOUR
  187  BALLOT WILL NOT COUNT.
  188         9. Mail, deliver, or have delivered the completed mailing
  189  envelope. Be sure there is sufficient postage if mailed.
  190         10. FELONY NOTICE. It is a felony under Florida law to
  191  accept any gift, payment, or gratuity in exchange for your vote
  192  for a candidate. It is also a felony under Florida law to vote
  193  in an election using a false identity or false address, or under
  194  any other circumstances making your ballot false or fraudulent.
  195         Section 5. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.